The water footprint of Mexico in the context of North America

People have heard about saving water and improving efficiency for years: closing the water tap while washing, avoiding washing our cars with hoses, and using only a glass of water to brush our teeth. However, water for household consumption (that which we see running in front of our eyes while washing our hands or dishes, watering the garden, or using it otherwise at home) represents only 4 per cent of the water we use in our daily routines.

When we sum up total water consumption within a region, we find places where its inadequate allocation has negatively affected ecosystem health. Nature often lies at the end of the water cycle allocation process, after public consumption, agriculture, industry or energy generation have taken their portion.

By looking at water footprint, policymakers, business leaders and conservation scientists can develop ways to manage and allocate water to meet the needs of people, economies and nature.